news 6 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Government Mandates Sinotruck Inspections in Greater Kampala Amid Safety Concerns
Following a recent fatal accident, the Ugandan government has announced a mandatory 60-day inspection period for all Sinotrucks operating in the Greater Kampala area, with non-compliant vehicles facing impoundment. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-announces-mandatory-inspection-of-sinotrucks-in-greater-kampala-5548976
The Ministry of Works and Transport has declared a mandatory inspection for all Sinotrucks operating within the Greater Kampala region, encompassing Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and parts of Mpigi and Kayunga. This initiative, set to commence after a planned meeting with Sinotruck owners and the police, will last for 60 days.
Mr. Winstone Katushabe, the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety, stated that trucks failing to pass the inspection will be impounded. The directive also requires Sinotruck drivers to be accredited and vetted, similar to bus drivers.
This crackdown follows a tragic accident on the Kampala-Masaka Highway where a Sinotruck transporting sand was involved in a collision with a taxi, resulting in the deaths of 14 people. Officials expressed concern that Sinotrucks are “accident-prone” due to their heavy tonnage and the potential for driver error or mechanical issues.
“We want to study the problem further, and also to focus on them and see why they are causing accidents. Are the drivers well trained? Do they know how to operate these vehicles? Because they are not normal vehicles, but heavy-load vehicles. Then, secondly, are the vehicles in good working condition? Do they have good brakes that support that kind of load?” questioned Mr. Apollo Kashanku, Assistant Commissioner for Road Transport Regulation and Safety.
Sinotrucks are heavy-duty trucks manufactured in China, increasingly used in Uganda for construction and logistics. Reports from drivers suggest potential issues such as gearbox failures and difficulties in ascending inclines, exacerbated by overloading.
The inspection of Sinotrucks is part of broader efforts to improve road safety. The Ministry of Works has also conducted operations at bus terminals in Kampala, identifying non-compliance issues such as unauthorized cargo truck parking and delays in vehicle registration, with plans to streamline the process from eight hours to one hour.